Colts' defensive interior was strong against the run in 2017

There have been plenty of changes to the Indianapolis Colts defensive unit since the new year began and they will be coming off a 2017 season in which they were extremely strong against the run in the interior.

Elsewhere in the top five, the surprise team from this list is the Indianapolis Colts, whose success rate of 55.8 percent only barely trailed the Broncos. The Colts had their own surprise performer in the shape of former second-round bust Margus Hunt, who teamed with Johnathan Hankins and Al Woods to give the team an unexpectedly solid interior run defense.

Since the 2017 season ended, there have been many changes. The Colts no longer run a 3-4 base defense and Hankins has since been released with the team citing it as a scheme fit — or lack thereof.

The Colts still have Al Woods, who proved in 2017 to be one of the top run-stopping defensive tackles but they will need more production out of their three-technique defensive tackle, which is a role that could be filled by Denico Autry.

The Colts’ success against the run in 2017 was a surprise to most, especially given how poorly the entire unit played throughout the season but if there is one thing the team hopes translates from a four-win season, it is the success against the run.

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